THE WAITING GAME: Nick Swisher may be better off waiting for free-agent outfielders Josh Hamilton and Michael Bourn to sign, The Post’s Ken Davidoff writes, increasing his value on the market with less competition. Photo: Getty Images

THE WAITING GAME: Nick Swisher may be better off waiting for free-agent outfielders Josh Hamilton and Michael Bourn to sign, The Post’s Ken Davidoff writes, increasing his value on the market with less competition. (
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. — There are many adjectives one can use to describe Nick Swisher. “Patient,” however, is not one of them. Friends of the outfielder-first baseman say Swisher, after spending the prior four seasons with the Yankees, is very anxious over not knowing where he’ll be playing baseball in 2013 and beyond.

Patience, however, may very well prove the correct strategy for Swisher, and there’s every indication he’s going to be paid handsomely for his services.

Shane Victorino’s three-year, $39 million contract with Boston, completed yesterday, hurt Swisher in one way and helped him in another. It took the Red Sox off the list of clubs vying for Swisher’s services, as Victorino will be slated as the Red Sox’s everyday right fielder and newcomer Mike Napoli will play a lot at first base. Yet while Swisher can’t play center field as can Victorino, he put up considerably better numbers than Victorino did in 2012 and therefore can use this contract as a favorable comparison.

Josh Hamilton and Michael Bourn are the other two free-agent outfielders who figure to sign before Swisher. If those two commit shortly, Swisher would become the best remaining outfielder on the market. He already might be the best remaining first baseman, with Adam LaRoche not far behind.

So who’s still in play for Swisher? He’s actually open to returning to the Yankees, but that isn’t happening, not with the Yankees determined to get their 2014 payroll under $189 million.

The Mariners are desperate for offensive upgrades and have money to spend, and that could override their reservations about Swisher’s showy personality. Swisher’s favorite city is Seattle.

According to ESPN, the Orioles met yesterday with Swisher’s agent Dan Lozano. Baltimore has needs at both first base and outfield.

The Giants have checked in on Swisher. After re-signing former Met Angel Pagan, however, San Francisco is thinking smaller, financially — like Scott Hairston or Ryan Ludwick — for a second outfield purchase.

Washington held internal discussions earlier this offseason about signing Swisher to play first base. That seems unlikely now, though. The Nationals want to re-sign LaRoche and trade Mike Morse to reinforce other pieces of their roster. Yesterday, Washington and Dan Haren agreed to terms on a one-year, $13 million deal.

* Remember Rafael Soriano? You don’t hear his name much at these Winter Meetings. Scott Boras tends to drag many of his clients into January, at which point he lands them huge contracts. Last year, Prince Fielder and Detroit agreed to terms in late January. And two years ago, the January benefactors were Adrian Beltre (with Texas) and … Soriano, with the Yankees.

Soriano has been reassured by Boras to remain calm, that things will ultimately work out in his favor. The Tigers specifically have been mentioned within the Boras camp as a possibility.

Detroit officials continue to assert they’ll open spring training going with rookie Bruce Rondon as their top candidate to close. Nevertheless, it’s hard to put too much value in such assertions, as Boras has a long history of conducting business directly with Tigers owner Mike Ilitch. Boras surely will make the case to Ilitch, if he hasn’t already, that it would be foolhardy for the defending American League champion to enter 2013 with a rookie closer — especially when someone as talented and accomplished as Soriano is available.

The other likely suitor for Soriano? Washington, which is looking to add another bullpen piece. Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo has an excellent relationship with Boras.

* The White Sox, likely to lose catcher A.J. Pierzynski to another team via free agency, are looking for left-handed pop to balance out their lineup, as well as a third baseman to replace Kevin Youkilis. The former Red Sox icon Youkilis could return to Chicago’s South Side, although team officials view him as better off playing first base than third base.

The Blue Jays, having dramatically remade their team already, are looking for bullpen help. Lefty Darren Oliver, 42, has not yet committed to coming back for next season even though Toronto exercised its $3 million team option on the former Met.